Doing Archaeology, course design and learning outcomes 

COURSE KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
After completing this course, you should be able to: 
  • describe, with specific examples, the goals, methods, opportunities, and challenges (both scientific and ethical) of archaeology as a method of understanding the past. 
  • demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in collecting data and analyzing tree-ring samples from living trees.
  • describe how and why tree-cutting dates are used by archaeologists and demonstrate proficiency in dating an historic frontier cabin
  • describe how the key archaeological methods and concepts of inference, survey, sampling, stratigraphy, excavation, and chronology building are used by archaeologists
  • improve your ability to work collaboratively while conducting and presenting research
WEEK 1:  UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARCHAEOLOGY IS AND HOW IT IS PRACTICED 
Our focus at the beginning of the course is building the foundational knowledge necessary for a productive learning experience at the Manitou Experimental Forest. The information presented, methods learned, and discussions are also essential for understanding the rest of the course. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing Week 1, you should be able to: 
  • Explain how the scientific method is applied in archaeological research with emphasis on the role of research questions and research designs
  • Define an inference, the role of inference in archaeology, and the strengths and weaknesses of inference as a way of knowing
  • Correctly use many of the key terms/concepts of archaeological practice 
  • Describe the landscape and culture history of the study site through documentary research
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • Key Concepts Quiz
  • Mapping and GIS exercises
  • Research design
  • Participation/attendance
Week 2:  HANDS-ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD EXPERIENCE
Archaeology involves both conceptual and methodological approaches. Our week in the field will immerse you in the hands-on methods of working with environmental/climate proxy data, historic cultural resources, and how archaeological work is accomplished. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing Week 2, you should be able to: 
  • Take a core from a living tree and an historic cabin to create a master chronology and date a cabin
  • Describe what materials archaeologists study and where these might be found
  • Make informed inferences about human behavior from artifacts
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • Field notebook
  • Focused and collaborative participation and contributions to the field work
Week 3:  LABORATORY METHODS, SITE INTERPRETATION, AND THE ETHICS OF ARCHAEOLOGY
Following our return from the field we will finish processing our tree-ring samples, date each core, create a master skeleton plot, and date the cabin.  We will also consider, through short presentations and readings, other key archaeological methods we have not encountered in our field work.  
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this section, you should be able to: 
  • Prepare and date tree-ring cores from a field site to create a master chronology and date an historic cabin 
  • Describe some key archaeological methods (survey, sampling, stratigraphy, excavation, and chronology building)
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • Key concepts quiz
  • Participation/attendance
Week 4:  REPORTING RESULTS
Reporting the results of our research to both public and professional audiences is essential and you will learn how to do both. We also consider the questions:  who "owns" the past and who should take care of it?  We will also struggle with the dilemmas these questions pose.  Finally, we consider how and if the past can provide insights into the present to address modern problems such as the sustainability of social and ecological systems. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this section, you should be able to: 
  • Describe the role of reporting research results to the public
  • Craft a public presentation of research results
  • Write a final field work report
  • Describe what archaeology is and how it is practiced 
  • Describe archaeology's relevance in the world today
  • Evaluate if and how the past can inform the present
ACTIVITIES & METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
  • Insights from the past case study or essay
  • Final field report
  • Public presentation
  • Key concepts quiz
  • Participation/attendance